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Tag: SDP

  • Supreme Court dismisses SDP’s appeal against Fintiri’s re-election

    Supreme Court dismisses SDP’s appeal against Fintiri’s re-election

    The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Umar Ardo, its candidate in the 2023 Adamawa governorship election against Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri.

    Justice John Okoro who led the five-member panel led by subsequently dismissed the appeal after the counsel for the candidate prayed the court to withdraw the case.

    When the matter was called, a member of the panel Justice Helen Ogunwumiju drew the attention of counsel to the appellants, Sylvester Imanogbe to the fact that the appeal was incompetent.

    “This appeal is a waste of the court’s precious time, on the grounds that the petitioners did not only score a very insignificant votes of about 6,000 but did not show how the alleged noncompliance to the electoral laws and guidelines affected them or the outcome of the March 18 and April 16 rerun governorship election in Adamawa State”.

    Taking the hint of the court that the appeal was incompetent and also not wanting to waste the court’s time by arguing the case, Imanogbe made an oral application for the appeal.

    Respondents in the appeal however did not object to the withdrawal and presiding Justice, John Okoro, subsequently dismissed the appeal.

    Fnitiri is now left with the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress and its candidate, Aishatu Dahiru, seeking to be declared the governor of the state.

  • Magnus Abe dumps SDP for APC to support Tinubu’s agenda

    Magnus Abe dumps SDP for APC to support Tinubu’s agenda

    Senator Magnus Abe, former Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, said that he is returning to his former party, the All Progressives Congress (APC)to support President Bola Tinubu’s developmental agenda.

    Abe, who was the former Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general elections, disclosed this on Wednesday during a stakeholder meeting held in Port Harcourt with some members of the SDP who are loyal to him.

    He said that his returning to the APC would enable him work together with other well-meaning Nigerians to support the administration of President Tinubu and to enable Rivers people be part of the development at the centre.

    Abe stated that the responsibility of engendering peace in the party is that all members of the party regardless of their positions should be ready to work for the progress of the party.

    He said that the Chairman Caretaker Committee of the party, Mr Tony Okocha, had been a member of his team when he was in APC and as the party by the National Working Committee decided he becomes the Chairman so be it.

    According to Abe, we are not joining the party because of an individual, but they are in the party as the founding members of the party and grassroots supporters of President Tinubu.

    “We believe that it is proper that we are in the party supporting President Tinubu’s developmental agenda.

    “Everybody in the party should have learnt one thing or two as how we can make the party work, we are coming in with open minded ready to work with everybody within the party.

    “We believe that everybody with sincere interest in the progress of the party should be ready to join,” Abe said.

    He stressed his readiness to work with other actors in the party as long as they were ready to work with common grounds and goals.

    In a reaction, the Chairman Caretaker Committee of APC in Rivers, Tony Okocha welcomed Sen. Abe to the party, saying that “what makes a party thick is not a single individual but a whole lot of people”.

    According to Okocha, the beauty of politics is the more the merrier, noting that Abe was counted as the founding of APC in Rivers.

    “I can say that without any fear or contradiction,  but whatever that happened is not new, we are on known part against an intransigent government or leadership of the party, but I didn’t think that the proper thing is to leave the party.

    “But he may have left to pursue his visions under SDP, if he is beating for a retreat, we welcome him with our whole chest and we will work together with him.

    “I  do not think that in this present day politics one head is bigger than 10, every individual from 18 years is eligible to vote, and I am not willing to sacrifice one person for 10, but if any person beating to return genuinely not to destroy the party, we accept,” Okocha said.

  • Be bold in implementing electoral laws- SDP tells INEC

    Be bold in implementing electoral laws- SDP tells INEC

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be bold in implementing provisions of the Electoral Laws and the Constitution in the conduct of future election.

    The SDP National Chairman, Malam Shehu Gabam said this in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Gabam said that Nigerians expected INEC in 2024 to make adjustments in areas where there were mistakes in the past and take bold steps to correct them in the future.

    He added that INEC must be bold in prosecuting electoral offenders and cancel election where there were evidences of compromise in the process.

    “In last election in Kogi, INEC admitted that the election result sheet, which is the most sensitive election materials, was leaked and pre-filled before the election, but it didn’t act appropriately.

    “In spite of promising that it will cancel the election in those three local government areas, it didn’t do that, but we are fighting it. We have instituted a petition to challenge it.

    “INEC needs to be bold because they have the power to cancel election where there is evidence of compromise. The law is very clear,’’ he said.

    Gabam advised INEC chairman to be bold in rectifying some of the past mistakes of the commission.

    “The commission said that it was investigating some electoral offenders, INEC has to demonstrate to Nigerians that it is very serious in prosecuting them, otherwise voters apathy in this country will be unprecedented,’’ he said.

    On the call for further review of electoral laws, Gabam said what Nigeria needed was reorientation of Nigerians, if it must get its electoral process right.

    “I think reorientation is key. Generally, there is the need for reorientation, for people to understand their rights and privileges.

    “If people are reoriented properly for them to understand that it is their constitutional right to cast their votes and their votes to be counted, they will resist any attempt to subvert their votes.

    “Once people started resisting an attempt to subvert their votes, there’s nothing anybody, including the executive can do to subvert their will,” he said.
    He added that Nigerians must also change their attitute of boycotting election, saying boycotting election was not a solution in democratic system of government.

    “People must know that if you do not vote, you are doing a great disservice to the system. By avoiding the system, you are doing more harm to the system.

    “What is expected of you is to cast your votes, stand there and make sure your votes count,’’ Gabam said.

    He advised the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to go back to its constitutional role of sensiting Nigerians on need to vote and protect their votes during election.

    He said that even during military regimes, NOA was all over the country mobilising Nigerians to go and vote.

     

  • SDP dismisses involvement in rumoured coalition against Tinubu

    SDP dismisses involvement in rumoured coalition against Tinubu

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has dismissed its rumoured coalition with some opposition parties to work against President Bola Tinubu.

    “SDP wishes to clarify its position regarding the suggestion that it is involved in forming a coalition against President Tinubu’s administration.

    “SDP firmly distances itself from such unpatriotic and undemocratic political tactics.

    “The party acknowledges the existence of a substantial conspiracy, reportedly backed by influential opposition figures and certain private sector entities.

    “This conspiracy is aimed at establishing a formidable coalition of opposition parties, trade unions, and civil society organisations,’’ SDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Alfa Mohammed, stated in Abuja on Friday.

    He added that the goal was to turn public opinion against the current government, potentially leading to its undemocratic removal.

    “To eliminate any confusion, it is important to note that the mainstream SDP is currently embroiled in a legal struggle against certain factions illegitimately recognised by INEC,

    “The mainstream SDP is committed to engaging with Tinubu’s administration in a constructive manner for the next three years.

    “This approach excludes any involvement in schemes aimed at destabilising the government or distracting its focus,’’ he stated.

    Mohammed urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and be discerning in the face of potentially harmful propaganda and provocative statements that would soon be coming from the said coalition.

    He said the tactics were designed to erode public confidence in the president and the ruling political class, thereby jeopardising the integrity of the nation’s hard-won democracy.

  • SDP ready to work with Tinubu, raises hope in the 2024 budget

    SDP ready to work with Tinubu, raises hope in the 2024 budget

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has said  President Bola Tinubu’s 2024 Appropriation Bill of N27.5 trillion should not fail to truly renew Nigerians’ hopes.

    The Southwest Zonal Secretary of the party, Mr Femi Olaniyi, said on Thursday in Lagos that there must be a departure from the non-performing budgets of the past.

    Applauding Tinubu’s focus on internal security and economic restoration, Olaniyi said the president’s plan to tackle unemployment, inflation and poverty were commendable.

    “The 2024 Appropriation Bill is truly remarkable because of its focus on internal security and economic revamping to address galloping inflation and threatening poverty.

    “We are hopeful that this budget will truly renew the hope of Nigerians as we have seen numerous budgets in the past without corresponding improvement in the wellbeing of the people.

    “We are truly optimistic for better budget performance with Tinubu’s ingenuity. He did it in Lagos State before; he can do it again.

    “This budget should and must not fail to rejig this country and reposition it,’’ Olaniyi, the Lagos State Chairman of SDP said.

    He noted that the 2024 budget addressed key sectors and needs of the people, adding that with diligent implementation strategies, Nigerians would soon rejoice.

    Olaniyi noted also that national defence and internal security, job creation, macro-economic stability, investment environment optimisation, human capital development were the hallmarks of the budget.

    Notable also in the 2024 Budget of Renewed Hope are poverty reduction and social security, he said.

    Olaniyi also said that the SDP was fully prepared to support Tinubu’s administration to build a prosperous Nigeria that would create happiness for all.

    The president presented an Appropriation Bill of N27.5 trillion, tagged: “Budget of Renewed Hope’’ to the National Assembly on Wednesday.

    He said at the presentation that government would focus on ensuring value for money, greater transparency, and accountability.

    He assured that government would also work more closely with development partners and the private sector for effective budget performance.

    Tinubu said also that his administration would implement business and investment-friendly measures for sustainable growth, expecting the economy to grow by a minimum of 3.76 per cent, which is higher than the forecasted world average.

    The 2024 budget was benchmarked on a conservative oil price of 77.96 dollars per barrel and a daily oil production estimate of 1.78 million barrels.

    Tinubu said the benchmark was adopted after a careful review of global oil market trends.

    The president added that an exchange rate of N750 to the dollar was also adopted for the 2024 budget.

     

  • Kogi: If anything happens to INEC office, hold SDP responsible – APC

    Kogi: If anything happens to INEC office, hold SDP responsible – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council in Kogi has called on the general public to hold the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state responsible, if anything untoward happens to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) office in Lokoja.

    The APC campaign council also called on security agencies to fortify security around INEC offices given the alarm raised by the SDP.

    Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the Director of Media and Publicity/Spokesperson for the APC campaign council, made the calls in a statement issued in Lokoja on Sunday night.

    The SDP had, in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director General, New Media, MuriSam Campaign Council, Mr Isaiah Ijele, claimed that it had uncovered plans to burn down INEC office in Kogi.

    Ijele alleged: “It has come to our notice via grave vines that there is an urgent need for security to be beefed around the Kogi INEC office in order to avert the sinister plot to burn down the office by mandate bandits.”

    But the APC campaign council said the party was convinced that the false alarm raised by the SDP over a purported planned attack on the INEC office was to cover up the party’s sinister motive of torching the INEC office and turning around to blame it on the APC.

    Fanwo said: “As they know they have no evidence to substantiate their characteristic lies about the credibility of the Kogi State Governorship Poll that has been adjudged as the best in the democratic history of our dear state.

    “Their clandestine move to cover up their propaganda-fuelled claims about the election is well documented as we call on security agencies to fortify security around the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission across the state.

    “No amount of propaganda can help their baseless, senseless, unsubstantiated claims after their scorecard at the poll was at complete variance with their boastful pre-election posture.

    “They have resorted to attacking INEC and everyone except themselves. Such is the sorry state of a party and its candidate who lack the political pedigree to challenge the politically rooted APC in Kogi.

    “Despite their intimidation and blood-letting rampage in some parts of the state, INEC conducted a credible, free and fair election and the security agencies also ensured that the votes of the people counted.

    “We commend Kogi residents for standing up to ethnic bigots by responding resoundingly with votes that reflected our unity as a people.”

    According to him, no one is afraid of the legal challenge of the SDP ”since they failed to win the election and failed to disunite our state and our people”.

     

  • SDP narrates how INEC and APC allegedly fabricated 130,000 votes from 30,000 BVAS records in Kogi

    SDP narrates how INEC and APC allegedly fabricated 130,000 votes from 30,000 BVAS records in Kogi

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for the Kogi State governorship election, Murtala Ajaka, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the conduct and outcome of the poll held on Saturday.

    He alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) colluded with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate the results in favour of Yahaya Bello’s candidate.

    Ajaka, who spoke on on a national tv program alleges: ‘The 2023 Verdict: Off-Cycle Elections,’ claimed that there was no election in the five local governments in the central senatorial district of the state.

    He said that the results were fabricated and inflated by the APC with the help of INEC officials.

    He cited the example of Okene local government, where he said that over 130,000 votes were recorded for the APC, while the biometric verification agent system (BVAS) showed that less than 30,000 voters were accredited. He said that this was a clear case of electoral fraud that should not be accepted by INEC.

    “In the whole of the five local governments in central, the whole of the five local governments in central, there was no election anywhere. They wrote results. Result sheets were given to Yahaya Bello

    “In Okene local government, they turned out over 130,000 votes, haba! And INEC accepted that result and what is on the BVAS is less than 30,000.

    “With all due respect to the person of the INEC chairman, if they don’t do a checklist and investigate their officials that went to Kogi State and allow this to stand, I doubt if there will be election in 2027.

    “Because people will go into that election armed and I fear Somalia will be a child’s play.

    “If we knew it would be the same old music, we would have played along with that old music by inflating the results from my area.

    “When the commission told us yesterday that they were looking into this case, we were hopeful, that is why everybody relaxed. Only for them now to collate these results. It is annoying. Three local governments are producing 230,000-something votes,”

    Ajaka also accused the INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, of failing to investigate the allegations of irregularities and violence that marred the election.

    He said that if INEC does not reverse the results and declare the true winner, it would jeopardize the future of democracy in Nigeria.

    Ajaka, however, said that he would not challenge the outcome of the election in court, as he believed that it would be a waste of time and resources. He said that he had no confidence in the judiciary to deliver justice in the matter.

    He called on the international community and civil society organizations to intervene and save Kogi State from the tyranny of Yahaya Bello and the APC. He said that the people of Kogi State deserved a free and fair election that would reflect their choice of leadership.

  • Kogi guber: SDP’s Ajaka raises alarm over missing result sheets in 3 LGAs

    Kogi guber: SDP’s Ajaka raises alarm over missing result sheets in 3 LGAs

    Muritala Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party, SDP, governorship candidate in Kogi State has alleged that the results sheets for the ongoing election for three local governments in the Central Senatorial Zones of Kogi State are missing.

    Ajaka revealed this while addressing journalists after casting his vote at Idah local government area of the state.

    He, however, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for an electoral arrangement he described as perfect.

    He also commended President Bola Tinubu for fulfilling his promise to provide security for voters during the election.

    “We thank the President. He promised us security and we are seeing the security”

    On the missing results sheets, Ajaka said, “Original result sheets for Okehi, Adavi and Okene local government areas in the central senatorial zone are missing.”

    He claimed that the result sheets are already being filled even when the elections have not been concluded.

    The SDP candidate claimed that staff of INEC in the three local government areas had been compromised.

  • 2023 Kogi Guber: SDP candidate, Ajaka speaks on stepping down

    2023 Kogi Guber: SDP candidate, Ajaka speaks on stepping down

    Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka (Muri) the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for the 2023 Kogi State governorship election has debunked speculations that he stepped down from the  guber race.

    Recall that a purported letter of withdrawal  started to circulate online on November 3, 2023.

    In a statement signed by the Director General, New Media.

    MuriSam Campaign Council, Isaiah Davies Ijele stated that the letter was “false and baseless, adding that it was the work of “miscreants” and the “sinking ship” of the ruling party in Kogi State.

    According to Ijele. Ajaka is the people’s candidate.

    He said “The candidate of the people” and “cannot step down for anyone at this point.

    He also accused the ruling party in Kogi State of trying to turn the SDP against the ADC, stressing that Kogites no longer want their continuous stay in office due to alleged maladministration in the last seven and half years.

    The SDP spokeperson, however, called on the general public, especially their supporters, to disregard the fake letter of withdrawal.

    The statement reads, “The fake letter of withdrawal began circulating online on November 3, 2023. The letter claimed that Ajaka had withdrawn from the race and endorsed the APC candidate, Yahaya Bello. The letter was purportedly signed by Ijele and Unekwu, which are lies from the pit of hell.”

    The Kogi State governorship election is scheduled to take place on November 11, 2023.

  • Kogi guber: SDP, APC trade words over disrupted rally

    Kogi guber: SDP, APC trade words over disrupted rally

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of sponsoring thugs to disrupt its rally at Ejule-Kogi in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi.

    Mr Faruk Adejoh-Audu, the Director, Communications, Muri/Sam SDP Gubernatorial Campaign Council, made the accusation in a statement in Lokoja.

    “At about 9:30 a.m., about two hours before the rally was scheduled to commence, thugs invaded the St. Matthew Primary School venue and destroyed canopies, public address systems, chairs and the podium arranged for the event.

    “But SDP leaders in the locality, led by Elder Obolo, Rabi Emaiku and Gambo Haruna, encouraged supporters to ignore the intimidation and still show up for the rally.

    “The moment supporters began trooping to the rally ground, a group led by a motorcade again, unleashed thugs, this time shooting sporadically.

    “Several persons were injured in the course of the mayhem, while the thugs equally destroyed several vehicles they identified as belonging to SDP supporters,’’ he said.

    He added: “This is the second time that an SDP rally will be attacked by identified aides of an opposition party,” he said.

    The SDP campaign director alleged that a similar attack was carried out on an SDP rally in Koton Karfe on Sept. 29.

    Reacting, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the spokesperson for APC Campaign Council in Lokoja said the allegations were untrue as the party had no hand in the attacks.

    “We are not ready to join issues with SDP because doing so is glorifying them; we won’t be dragged into their frivolities, gasping lies and lack of direction.

    “As a government, our concern and responsibility is to create an enabling environment for all to pursue their normal businesses.

    “We are a government and our priority is to protect all the people of Kogi irrespective of political leanings,’’ he said.